Harry Potter and the Quest to Prevent LGBTQ Teen Suicides

Young actor Daniel Radcliffe, who shot to fame playing everyone’s favorite teen wizard Harry Potter, has been a long time supporter of The Trevor Project, a leading national organization that focuses on crisis and suicide prevention efforts for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Now, Radcliffe has stepped up his advocacy, creating a public service announcement to publicize the charity.

Here is an Associated Press interview with Daniel, where he talks about his reasons for supporting The Trevor Project:

In August 2009 Radcliffe reportedly donated a large sum of money to The Trevor Project, the total of which was never disclosed. At the time, Radcliffe made this statement:

“I am very pleased to begin my support of The Trevor Project, which saves lives every day through its critical work.

It’s extremely distressing to consider that in 2009 suicide is a top three killer of young people, and it’s truly devastating to learn that LGBTQ youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.

“I deeply hope my support can raise the organisation’s visibility so even more despondent youth become aware of the Trevor helpline’s highly trained counsellors and Trevor’s many other resources.

“It’s vitally important that young people understand they are not alone and, perhaps even more important, that their young lives have real value.”

The Trevor Project itself was set up in 1998 by three filmmakers, James Lecesne, Peggy Rajski, and Randy Stone, who together also won an Oscar in 1995 for their 1994 film Trevor which tells the story of a suicidal gay teenager. The Trevor Project continues today as a vital resource for America’s LGBT and questioning youth.

Established in 1998 to coincide with the HBO airing of the award winning short film, Trevor, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, The Trevor Helpline is the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.

The Trevor Helpline is a free and confidential service that offers hope and someone to talk to, 24/7. The Trevor Helpline’s trained counselors will listen and understand without judgment. If you or someone you know would like to talk to one of our highly trained counselors, dial 866-4-U-TREVOR.

It’s great to see Daniel Radcliffe showing such passion for this cause, and all the better that he is a straight ally whose role in the Harry Potter franchise will allow him to speak directly to a teen LGBT and questioning audience to let them know about the vital and life saving work that The Trevor Project is involved in. The fact that Radcliffe’s advocacy is being highlighted just before the Oscars, which are on Sunday, March 7, really delivers a powerful message that people in the public eye can use their celebrity and fame in beneficial ways.

Related to this, Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black, who won Best Original Screenplay for his film Milk in 2009, is also involved in The Trevor Project, having become a member of its board of directors. Milk tells the story of politician Harvey Milk and the battle he fought to become California’s first openly gay elected official.

I came over this site when reading about The Trevor Project online. Personally I am very supporting of all the work that The Trevor Project is doing and about their crisis lifeline. I know how it is to be discriminated for being a lesbian, to be told I am sick for loving another woman. Enough is enough there should be equal rights for all no matter who you are or were you live.

I am running my own fundraiser on a site called Crowdrise, here you can see it: http://www.crowdrise.com/fundraiserelise/fundraiser/elisemariemyrvangeik there are many teammembers supporting it from all over the world. I would love you to become a teammember to and help support my fundraiser to raise more funds for helping gay teens.

Daniel Radcliffe is a true inspiration to me. I love what he is doing to help The Trevor Project.

I found out recently that I have a niece who is lesbian - even tho I have not been close to her; I also heard that because of the fact that her folks are very religious - not many of them went to her commitment ceremony to her partner. This is a girl who is honest, successful & beautiful. She has 2 failed marriages to men. She seems by all account happy now. Her parents allow the 'partner' to come to functions and are 'nice' to her; but the idea that you would not attend a function that was a special day in your child's life just is kind of sad. No matter what, this is your child, whom God sent you to love. God forgives us no matter what - it is a shame that some parents cannot do the same and who belittle these kids and due to some "time honored model" would deny their children happiness. These kids did not fail their parents - their parents failed them.